GRADUALLY Synonyms: 22 Similar and Opposite Words

gradually

adverb

Definition of gradually

as in slowly

by small steps or amounts gradually worked his way down the class roster add the sugar to the beaten egg whites gradually to make the meringue

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of gradually The trailer starts in the familiar territory of family and aspiration before gradually tightening its grip. — Sophie Miller, Rolling Stone, 10 Aug. 2026 Faith King and Josiah Fagerstrom both deliver delightfully prickly repartee as their characters gradually manage to surpass archetype. — Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 10 Aug. 2026 The Dakar program is expected to provide Israel with newer systems and additional capabilities as its older submarines are gradually retired. — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 10 Aug. 2026 Combined with an increasingly dry landscape, this will lead to a gradually increasing wildfire threat, particularly across western North Texas later this week. — Michael Autovino, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026 After Assad's ouster Russian troops remaining in Syria gradually left the country except for those stationed at the bases. — ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026 The sun was still out, people were gradually filing in and the opening act, Anoushka Shankar, a sitar player, was unexpectedly great. — David Allen, Daily News, 9 Aug. 2026 As the years passed, Kaverman, 36, said her symptoms gradually worsened. — Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 9 Aug. 2026 The shift from filmmaker to participant happened gradually, not in a single moment. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 9 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gradually

Adverb

But that effort has moved slowly in the months since, spurring frustration among some White House and health officials that HHS doesn’t yet have any significant progress for the administration to tout, two administration officials said.

— Adam Cancryn, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
Once the plastic ends up in a landfill, the tubes slowly fragment into microplastics that can get into the air, soil, and water.

— Anne Makovec, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of slowly

Adverb

Malik Willis is progressively getting better Willis has shown steady, consistent development throughout training camp’s first nine practices.

— Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 9 Aug. 2026
The first stated Nancy would be killed if their Bitcoin demand was not met, and included a pair of deadlines with progressively larger payouts.

— Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of progressively

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gradual

gradually

graduate

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“Gradually.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gradually. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of gradually

adverb

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